Until recently this record-breaking F-104 was on display, but a week before before my visit it was unfortunately removed to the storage hangar to make space for an F-15. While based at Hahn AB with the 479th TFW in 1962, it reached a speed of Mach 2.5 at 92,000 ft. When I saw it in 1975, it was outside in a plain light-grey scheme. Four years later it was badly damaged in the infamous tornado that wrecked so many fine airframes in the collection.

Preserved at the New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport. Photo by Tom Hildreth.

In 1962, this aircraft set the altitude and speed record for an operational F-104C while stationed in Hahn, Germany with the 479th TFW, reaching 92,000 feet at Mach 2.5. After retirement the plane cane to the NEAM but was heavily damaged in the October 1979 tornado that devastated the museum and caused the complete loss of many airframes. The plane was placed in storage until November of 2009 when restoration began. It is now on display wearing the markings of the 479th TFW when it made its record breaking flight.

Later on display at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT.

Displayed in the New England Air Museum.